Bad news for the much-anticipated boost to Hong Kong’s list of tourist attractions: the upcoming HK2.9-billion (US$369.4-million) water park and Hong Kong Ocean Park Marriott Hotel slated for Ocean Park are both facing delays, meaning their openings will miss the peak summer season.

The all-weather Tai Shue Wan Water World, tagged Southeast Asia’s first and only waterfront water park, was forecast to rack up 1.5 million visitors during its first 12 months, while bringing in HK$842 million in 2018. However a spokeswoman could only confirm that it would now be completed in 2019.

The luxury 471-room Hong Kong Ocean Park Marriott Hotel is also facing delays with an expected launch around three months later than previously estimated, pushing it back to the third quarter of 2018.

These two projects, plus a future Fullerton Hotel with a potential 2021 opening date, are part of plans to turn the loss-making 41-year-old Ocean Park into a strong competitor for Hong Kong Disneyland and its current US$1.3 billion expansion, and other regional attractions.

The delays are being blamed on the topography. “The construction work is demanding because the site is very hilly,” said an unnamed Ocean Park source, who added that the management is undecided as to whether to launch the water park as winter approaches or wait until pre-summer 2019.